# NTSB WPR09CA091: Siemer James H Earthstar, N532JS, Santa Ynez, CA, January 18, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 18, 2009, 09:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Santa Ynez, CA - Coordinates: 34.611328, -120.07856 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6113&lon=-120.0786&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 15, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 73250 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA091 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73250/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA091 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power due to the rear cylinder's spark plug coming out of the cylinder head. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Ignition system: spark plugs/igniters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057421): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Siemer James H EARTHSTAR ODYSSEY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057421/cases.md?model=056230D), [All aircraft, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057421/cases.md) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Siemer James H EARTHSTAR ODYSSEY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=056230D), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Siemer James H EARTHSTAR ODYSSEY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=056230D), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Siemer James H EARTHSTAR ODYSSEY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=056230D), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the sport pilot, during cruise flight in his experimental light sport airplane he noted that the two-cylinder engine's cylinder head and exhaust gas temperature gauges decreased in temperature. Thereafter, the number 1 cylinder (rear) stopped producing power, and engine power was partially lost. The pilot made a forced landing on upsloping, rough terrain. During landing, the airplane's forward fuselage buckled. The pilot said that examination of the engine revealed that the spark plug had come out of the engine's rear cylinder head. The pilot had changed the spark plugs about 2.5 hours prior to the mishap. ## Factual narrative According to the sport pilot, during cruise flight in his experimental light sport airplane, he noted that the two-cylinder Hirth 3203 engine's cylinder head and exhaust gas temperature gauges decreased in temperature. Thereafter, the number 1 cylinder (rear) stopped producing power, and engine power was partially lost. The pilot made a forced landing on upsloping, rough terrain. During landing, the airplane's forward fuselage buckled. The pilot said that examination of the engine revealed that the spark plug had come out of the engine's rear cylinder head. The pilot had changed the spark plugs about 2.5 hours prior to the mishap. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N532JS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N532JS-2018-03-06), registration cancelled 2018-03-06, S/N 010107, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SIEMER JAMES H EARTHSTAR - Registry model: [Siemer James H EARTHSTAR ODYSSEY](https://openairdocs.org/model/siemer-james-h-earthstar-odyssey) (registry code 056230D) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Hirth 3203](https://openairdocs.org/engine/hirth-3203) (registry code 33733, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 010107 - Airframe hours: 245 - Engines: Hirth 3203 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: IZA, Santa Ynez, CA - Destination: SZP, Santa Paula, CA - Airport: IZA, Santa Ynez, runway 26, 2,804 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review December 21, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 82 total, 9 in this make and model, 10 as pilot in command, 43 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Observed at: IZA, 1 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20090118002049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090118002049A), Jan 18, 2009: Siemer EARTHSTARODY, San Ynez, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) After takeoff from San Ynez Airport, while climbing, the aft cylinder, aft spark plug, departed the aircraft. This caused the engine to lose power and… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.